Composition of the atmosphere of Neptune. General information about the planet Neptune

In the hectic days, the world for an ordinary person sometimes decreases to the size of work and home. Meanwhile, if you look at the sky, you can see how insignificant it is on the scale of the universe. Maybe that's why young romantics dream of devoting themselves to conquering the cosmos and studying the stars. Scientists-astronomers for a second do not forget that, in addition to the Earth with its problems and joys, there are many other distant and mysterious objects. One of them is the planet Neptune, the eighth in terms of distance from the Sun, inaccessible to direct observation and therefore doubly attractive to researchers.

How it all began

Even in the middle of the XIX century, the solar system, according to scientists, contained only seven planets. Neighbors of the Earth, both near and far, were studied using all the available achievements in the field of engineering and computation. Many characteristics were first described theoretically, and only then did they find practical confirmation. With the calculation of the orbit of Uranus, the situation was somewhat different. Thomas John Hussey, an astronomer and a priest, discovered a discrepancy between the real trajectory of the planet's motion. The conclusion could only be one: there is an object that affects the orbit of Uranus. In fact, this was the first message about the planet Neptune.

Almost ten years later (in 1843), two researchers simultaneously calculated on what orbit the planet can move, forcing the gas giant to make room. They were the Englishman John Adams and the Frenchman Urben Jean Joseph Leverrier. Independently of each other, but with varying accuracy, they determined the path of the body.

Detection and designation

Neptune was found in the night sky by astronomer Johann Gottfried Halle, to which Leverrier came with his calculations. The French scientist, who later shared the glory of the discoverer with Halle and Adams, was mistaken in the calculations for only a degree. Officially, Neptune appeared in scientific papers on September 23, 1846.

Initially, the planet was proposed to be called the name of the two-faced Janus, but this designation did not take root. Astronomers are more inspired by the comparison of the new object with the king of the seas and oceans, as alien to the earth's firmament as, apparently, an open planet. The name of Neptune was proposed by Leverrier and supported by V. Ya. Struve, who headed the Pulkovo Observatory. The name was given, it only remained to understand what the composition of the atmosphere of Neptune, whether it exists at all, what is hidden in its depths and so on.

Compared to the Earth

Since the opening, a lot of time has passed. Today we know much more about the eighth planet of the solar system. Neptune significantly exceeds the Earth in size: its diameter is almost 4 times, and the mass - 17 times. Considerable distance from the Sun leaves no doubt that the weather on the planet Neptune is also significantly different from the terrestrial. There is not and can not be life. It's not even in the wind or some unusual phenomena. The atmosphere and surface of Neptune are practically one structure. This is a characteristic feature of all gas giants, including the given planet.

Imaginary surface

The density of the planet is considerably inferior to the Earth (1.64 g / cm³), so it is not easy to step onto its surface. And as such it is not. The level of the surface was agreed to be determined from the magnitude of the pressure: a supple and liquid-like "firmament" is in the lower layers of the atmosphere, where the pressure equals one bar, and, in fact, is a part of it. Any message about the planet Neptune as a space object of a specific size is based on this definition of the imaginary surface of the giant.

The parameters obtained taking into account this feature look like this:

• The diameter of the equator is 49.5 thousand km;

• Its size in the plane of the poles is almost 48,700 km.

The ratio of these characteristics makes Neptune in form far from the circle. He, like the Blue Planet, is somewhat flattened from the poles.

Composition of the atmosphere of Neptune

The mixture of gases enveloping the planet, in content is very different from the terrestrial. The overwhelming part is hydrogen (80%), the second position is occupied by helium. This inert gas makes a significant contribution to the composition of the atmosphere of Neptune - 19%. Methane is less than a percent, ammonia is also found here, but in a small amount.

Strangely enough, one percent of methane in the composition strongly affects the atmosphere of Neptune and the whole gas giant from the point of view of the external observer. This chemical compound makes up the clouds of the planet and does not reflect the light waves corresponding to the red color. As a result, for passing by spacecraft Neptune is colored in a saturated blue. This color is one of the mysteries of the planet. Scientists do not yet fully know what exactly leads to the absorption of the red part of the spectrum.

All gas giants are characterized by the presence of the atmosphere. Neptune among them highlights the color. Due to such characteristics it is called an ice planet. The frozen methane, which adds weight to the comparison of Neptune with an iceberg, is also part of the mantle surrounding the core of the planet.

Internal structure

The core of the space object contains iron, nickel, magnesium and silicon compounds. By its mass, the core is roughly equal to the whole Earth. In this case, unlike other elements of the internal structure, it has a density that exceeds the analogous parameter of the Blue Planet by a factor of two.

The core is covered, as already mentioned, with a mantle. Its composition is largely similar to atmospheric: ammonia, methane, water are present here. The mass of the layer is equal to fifteen terrestrial, while it is strongly heated (up to 5000 K). The mantle has no clear boundary, and the atmosphere of the planet Neptune flows smoothly into it. A mixture of helium and hydrogen is the upper part in the structure. The smooth transformation of one element into another and the diffuse boundaries between them are properties characteristic of all gas giants.

Difficulties in the study

Conclusions about what kind of atmosphere in Neptune, which is characteristic of its structure, are largely based on the already obtained data on Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn. The remoteness of the planet from the Earth makes it very difficult to study it.

In 1989, a Voyager-2 spacecraft flew near Neptune. It was the only meeting of the ice giant with the earthly messenger. Its fruitfulness, however, is obvious: most of the information about Neptune to science was provided by this ship. In particular, Voyager 2 discovered the Great and the Small dark spots. Both black areas were well visible against the background of the blue atmosphere. To date, it is unclear what the nature of these formations is, but it is assumed that these are vortex flows or cyclones. They appear in the upper layers of the atmosphere and sweep around the planet at great speed.

Perpetual motion

Many parameters cause the presence of an atmosphere. Neptune characterizes not only the unusual color, but also the constant movement created by the wind. The speed with which clouds fly around the planet around the equator exceeds one thousand kilometers per hour. They move in this case in the direction opposite to the rotation of Neptune itself. In this case, the planet turns around even faster: a full turn takes only 16 hours and 7 minutes. For comparison: one revolution around the sun takes almost 165 years.

Another mystery: the speed of wind in the atmosphere in gas giants increases with distance from the Sun and reaches a peak on Neptune. This phenomenon has not yet been substantiated, as are certain temperature features of the planet.

Heat distribution

Weather on the planet Neptune is characterized by a gradual temperature change depending on the altitude. That layer of the atmosphere, where the conditional surface is located, fully corresponds to the second name of the cosmic body (the ice planet). The temperature here drops to almost -200 ºC. If you move from the surface above, there will be a noticeable increase in heat up to 475º. Scientists have not yet found a worthy explanation for such differences. As expected, Neptune has an internal source of heat. Such a "heater" should produce twice as much energy as it does on the planet from the Sun. The heat from this source, combined with the energy coming from our star, is probably the cause of strong winds.

However, neither sunlight nor the internal "heater" can raise the temperature on the surface so that there is a perceptible change of seasons. And although other conditions for this are observed, it is impossible to distinguish the winter from the summer on Neptune.

Magnetosphere

Research "Voyager 2" helped scientists learn much about the magnetic field of Neptune. It is very different from terrestrial: the source is located not in the nucleus, but in the mantle, due to which the magnetic axis of the planet is strongly displaced relative to its center.

One of the functions of the field is protection from the solar wind. The shape of the magnetosphere of Neptune is strongly elongated: protective lines in that part of the planet that is illuminated are located at a distance of 600 thousand km from the surface, and on the opposite side - more than 2 million km.

Voyager fixed the volatility of the field voltage and the location of the magnetic lines. Such properties of the planet have not yet been explained to the end by science.

Rings

At the end of the 19th century, when scientists no longer sought an answer to the question of whether there was an atmosphere on Neptune, another problem arose before them. It was necessary to explain why on the way of the eighth planet the stars began to fade away for the observer a little earlier than Neptune approached them.

The problem was solved only after almost a century. In 1984, with the help of a powerful telescope, it was possible to examine the brightest ring of the planet, later named after the name of one of the discoverers of Neptune, John Adams.

Further studies have revealed several other similar formations. They closed the stars on the way of the planet. Today, astronomers consider Neptune the owner of six rings. In them lies another mystery. The Adams ring consists of several arches, located at some distance from each other. The reason for this placement is unclear. Some researchers are inclined to think that the force of the gravitational field of one of the satellites of Neptune - Galatea - keeps them in this position. Others lead a weighty counter-argument: its dimensions are so small that it is unlikely that it would cope with the task. Perhaps next to it there are several more unknown satellites helping Galatea.

In general, the rings of the planet - a spectacle, inferior to the impressive and beautiful like the formations of Saturn. Not the last role in a somewhat dull appearance is played by the composition. The rings mainly contain blocks of methane ice covered with silicon compounds, which absorb light well.

Satellites

Neptune - the owner (according to the latest data) of 13 satellites. Most of them are small in size. Outstanding parameters only in Triton, only slightly inferior in diameter to the Moon. The composition of the atmosphere of Neptune and Triton is different: the satellite has a gas shell of a mixture of nitrogen and methane. These substances give a very interesting view of the planet: frozen nitrogen with inclusions of methane ice creates a real riot of colors on the surface around the South Pole: yellow and yellow and yellow and white.

The fate of the handsome Triton, meanwhile, is not so rosy. Scientists predict him a clash with Neptune and absorption. As a result, the eighth planet will become the owner of a new ring, in terms of brightness comparable to those of Saturn and even ahead of them. The other satellites of Neptune are much inferior to Triton, some of them do not even have a name yet.

The eighth planet of the solar system largely corresponds to its name, the choice of which was affected by the presence of the atmosphere, - Neptune. Its composition contributes to the appearance of a characteristic blue color. Neptune rushes through a space we do not understand, like the god of the seas. And similar to the ocean depths, that part of the cosmos that begins behind Neptune keeps a lot of secrets from the person. Scientists of the future only have to open them.